1. [Functional reserve of the exocrine pancreas in Sjögren's syndrome]
- Author
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A, D'Ambrosi, A, Verzola, P, Gennaro, S, Gatto, M, Catellani, and R, La Corte
- Subjects
Adult ,Middle Aged ,Arthritis, Rheumatoid ,Bicarbonates ,Pancreatic Function Tests ,Sjogren's Syndrome ,Secretin ,Humans ,Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ,Female ,Trypsin ,Pancreas ,Ceruletide ,Aged - Abstract
Exocrine pancreatic function was studied in a homogeneous group of 33 female patients aged 42-67 years. Of these patients, 11 were classified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 11 as Sjögren's syndrome I (SSI) and 11 as Sjögren's syndrome associated with RA (SSII). Clinical features, laboratory tests and special instrumental techniques excluded gastroenteric-hepatobiliary causes of pancreatic diseases. These patients were subjected to direct pancreatic stimulation with secretin and caerulein (S. Cae test). Test results, compared to control-group (10 voluntary healthy females) showed, in the last 30 m of stimulation, a statistically significant decrease (p0.05) in duodenal juice volume, bicarbonates and trypsin in 6 cases (54.5%) of SSI and in 3 cases (27.2%) of RA. SSII S. Cae test showed a decrease of volume and bicarbonates in 6 patients (54.5%) and in only 4 of these (36.4%) it was associated with a concomitant decrease in trypsin levels. Authors discuss the subclinical exocrine pancreatic function in relationship to sicca-syndrome, possible immunological factors and primary disease of pancreatic ducts.
- Published
- 1997